Jacob Iati

[Patch]

Jacob Iati led undefeated York Catholic over previously undefeated Reading Central Catholic 71-66.

 

Jacob (Soph) had 24 pts. (Jacob is avg about 19ppg)

 

Siena recruit Alex Franklin (Sr.) had 19 for Reading.

 

Lets get Jacob signed early.

Edited January 16, 2006 by Patch

[olddog71]

Jacob Iati led undefeated York Catholic over previously undefeated Reading Central Catholic 71-66.

 

Jacob (Soph) had 24 pts. (Jacob is avg about 19ppg)

 

Siena recruit Alex Franklin (Sr.) had 19 for Reading.

 

Lets get Jacob signed early.

11194[/snapback]

 

If we sign Jacob, I hope this year's game between the two recruits is a good omen for the first crosstown game where they will be opposing each other again.

[Patch]

Jacob Iati's York Catholic completed an undefeated regular season......

 

Iati, Johnston pace Irish

 

Jacob Iati and Sean Johnston led York Catholic scorers in an 84-59 win.

By JEFF FRANTZ

Daily Record/Sunday News

 

 

 

 

 

York Catholic boys' coach Ryan Luckman talks over a strategy during York Catholic's win over Eastern York on Tuesday night.

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(Bil Bowden - YDR)

 

Feb 8, 2006 — As the clock wound down Tuesday night, celebratory cheers from Eastern York's stands were replaced by desperate screams of release.

They grew louder and came after every Golden Knight's play, be it layup, deflection or foul.

 

There was nothing else they could do.

 

On the court, York Catholic was finishing off its 23rd win of an undefeated regular season, ruining Eastern's senior night with an 84-59 victory.

 

Jacob Iati led the Fighting Irish with 21 points, 16 of which came in the first 12 minutes. He was followed closely by Sean Johnston, who added 20.

 

Ten Catholic players scored at least a

 

York Catholic's Sean Johnston, left, defends against Eastern York's Zach Beck on Tuesday at Eastern High School. The Fighting Irish recorded a convincing 84-59 victory over the Golden Knights to end the regular season undefeated for the fourth time in school history.

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(Bil Bowden - YDR)

 

point, a rarity for a team that normally goes six deep.

 

And this came against an Eastern team that entered the game with three losses and is considered to be one of the better squads in the YAIAA.

 

"We shot really well," Jim Senft said. "In big games, we just seem to step it up."

 

Ask an Eastern fan, and they'll likely tell you about the four Knights who fouled out. Or Catholic's 35 trips to the foul line in the second half to Eastern's six as officials whistled seemingly everything.

 

Or mild-mannered Eastern coach Larry Fisher picking up a technical foul from his chair.

 

But in truth,

 

Eastern's Zach Beck, right, runs over York Catholic defender Corey Stiles.

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(Bil Bowden - YDR)

 

the game was over before any of that happened.

 

Johnston made a layup as he was fouled on Catholic's first possession. He made the free throw.

 

Next trip down the floor, Iati hit a 3-pointer.

 

On the next, Johnston caught a crossing pass in the lane for an alley ump. Then Iati buried another trey.

 

Just like that, Eastern was down 11-0 and Fisher had to call a timeout 2:13 into the game. And Catholic's shooters were just getting warmed up.

 

The Irish made nine shots from behind the arc in the first half. Iati made four of them. The sophomore said it was the hottest start to a game of his career.

 

"I thought they would play me a little tougher than that, but I got some open looks," Iati said. "Corey Stiles did a great job of penetrating in the first half and pitching the ball out . . . I got some open looks because of that."

 

Catholic missed only four field goal attempts in the first quarter and was perfect from the field in the second.

 

The baskets Eastern made came with no rhythm. Even though the Knights' frontline towered above Catholic's, Eastern had trouble working the ball inside.

 

At the half, the Irish led by 21.

 

Catholic's shooting cooled off in the third quarter, but Eastern couldn't create any type of run and Senft started expanding his rotation.

 

"All in the season we haven't been able to put the nail in the coffin," Johnston said. "Tonight, we were able to do that."

 

Eastern now has four losses on the season, all coming to section champions Catholic (twice), Red Lion and Delone Catholic. Tuesday night's thrashing did nothing to dampen the teams' post-season desires, Fisher said.

 

"It's already behind us," Fisher said. "We're already preparing for bigger and better things."

 

The Knights play West York in the league tournament Friday.

 

Catholic will face Susquehannock in the first round of the YAIAA tournament.

 

"The last few games we've been a little shaky at times," Johnston said. "Tonight it seemed everything was clicking. It feels good going into counties and districts with this streak."